State representative John Raney announces that he is not running for re-election next year.
Raney, who joined the legislature in 2011 to fill an unexpired term in the district that now covers most of Brazos County, says he will finish his sixth full term.
Raney, who expects to return to Austin for a third special session this fall, says he supports raises for public school teachers and he opposes school vouchers.
After Raney’s news release, came announcements from candidates seeking the Republican nomination for house district 14 in the primary next March. They are retired Brazos County sheriff Chris Kirk and local businessman Larry Hodges.
Former representative Fred Brown, whose position was taken by Raney when Brown moved outside the district, initially announced his intent to run. Two days later, Brown posted on his Facebook page that he was dropping out and supporting Hodges.
The secretary of state’s office says the first day to file for the March primary is this November 11th.
Click below for comments from John Raney, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver:
News release from the Raney for Texas campaign:
State Representative John Raney announced he will not seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives. Rep. Raney has served House District 14, which comprises most of Bryan-College Station for seven terms.
“After much consideration, I have decided to not seek re-election in 2024 so that I may spend more time at home and on the road with my beautiful wife, Elizabeth, our daughters, their spouses, and our eight precious grandchildren. I am immensely proud and eternally grateful for the trust voters placed in me to serve the constituents of House District 14 and to represent them in the Texas Legislature in Austin. I cherish the experience, knowledge, and life-long friendships that developed along the way,” said Rep. Raney. “I will continue to be of service through the remainder of my current term.”
Rep. Raney’s legislative accomplishments include securing general and dedicated funding for Texas A&M University throughout each legislative session, mobile STEM lab funding, veteran job transition and student veteran protections, advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities, ensuring the safety and quality of child care, the creation of embryo donation for adoption, community college reporting transparency, collaborative health care for patients, energy efficiency savings for state buildings, Brazos County Court efficiency, the removal of barriers to access workforce development, and a Good Samaritan protection which created a defense to prosecution for anyone who calls 911 to aid an individual who appears to have experienced a drug overdose.
He is also proud of his work to pass historic property tax relief, provide additional funding and troops at the border, secure our elections, and increase funding for public education.
A sixth-generation Texan, Rep. Raney was sworn in during the 82nd Legislature in 2011. He is a Speaker-appointed member of the Energy Council and serves on numerous legislative caucuses. His committee assignments include six terms on the House Committee on Higher Education, four terms on Appropriations, two terms on Transportation where he currently serves as Vice Chair, three terms on House Administration, Land and Resource Management, and International Relations and Economic Development.